Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a school proprietor, Benson Arinze, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old pupil. The judge delivered the sentence on Tuesday after finding Arinze guilty as charged by the Lagos State Government.
Details of the Crime
Arinze was charged on a single count of defilement of a minor. The survivor was a pupil of Nurtured Brooks Nursery and Primary School in Ibeju Lekki, where Arinze served as proprietor in 2022. The victim often stayed behind after school while waiting for her parents to pick her up. It was during this time that the convict, along with a teacher, began sexually assaulting the child.
The prosecution revealed that Arinze inserted his finger into the survivor's vagina while the teacher, Victor Uche Ezenwata, rubbed his penis on her vagina. The abuse came to light when the survivor's mother noticed unusual behavior in her daughter and questioned her. The child then disclosed everything that had been happening at school.
Legal Proceedings
The survivor's father reported the matter at the Elemoro Police Station. Arinze was initially charged alongside Ezenwata with sexual assault by penetration of a six-year-old, an offense contrary to Section 261 of the Criminal Law C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015. Ezenwata faced three counts: sexual assault by penetration, unlawful sexual intercourse, and indecent treatment of a child, contrary to Section 135 of the same law.
Ezenwata applied for a plea bargain through his counsel, Spurgeon Ataene. An amended charge dated May 27, 2025, was read to him, and he pleaded guilty. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.
Trial and Judgment
Arinze maintained his innocence, and the trial commenced. The prosecution counsel, Mr. O.E. Adeoye, called witnesses, including the survivor and her father (PW1 and PW2). In delivering judgment, Justice Soladoye held that the testimonies of PW1 and PW2 were clear and compelling, providing sufficient evidence against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. She stated that “the evidence of the defence witnesses were self-serving.”
The court sentenced Arinze to life imprisonment and ordered that his name be registered in the Sexual Offence Register maintained by the Lagos State Government.
